Announcer: NEXT
ON LIFE TODAY!
JOSH MCDOWELL EXPLAINS HOW
UNDERSTANDING GOD'S CHARACTER
HELPS US
MAKE GOOD CHOICES.
>> IF BY THE FIRST TIME
YOUR CHILD SEES PORNOGRAPHY
YOU HAVE NOT BUILT INTO THEM
A CERTAIN CONCEPT
OF GOD'S BEAUTIFUL REASON
FOR SEXUALITY
THEN WHEN THEY SEE THAT PORN
THE FIRST TIME THEY CANNOT
DETECT A COUNTERFEIT
FROM THE ORIGINAL.
THE MAJORITY OF CHRISTIAN
YOUNG PEOPLE TO THIS DAY
BELIEVE PORN IS
GOD'S APPROACH TO SEX.
♪
James: THAT'S PRETTY GOOD!
THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
JAMES ROBISON HERE
WELCOMING YOU TO LIFE TODAY.
OUR SON RANDY IS HERE.
BETTY WAS UNABLE
TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
SHE IS NOT ILL.
SHE HAD ANOTHER ASSIGNMENT
THAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HER.
WE DID HAVE ANOTHER
GREAT GRANDBABY; THAT WASN'T
THE ASSIGNMENT THOUGH,
PARTICULARLY THERE BUT
THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS CARING.
IT REALLY MEANS A LOT.
THE PEOPLE HERE
ARE REALLY EXCITED.
THEY'RE CLAPPING.
I WANTED TO SAY MAYBE
IT IS BECAUSE OF OUR GUEST,
JOSH MCDOWELL.
HE WROTE EVIDENCE THAT
DEMANDS A VERDICT.
MAN, IT WAS BACK WHEN
HE AND I WERE BOTH KIDS.
WE'RE STILL PRETTY YOUNG BUT
BACK WHEN WE WERE KIDS
THESE THINGS WERE HAPPENING.
Josh: THE DEAD SEA
WAS ONLY SICK.
James: YOU'RE RIGHT.
[Laughter]
THAT'S ONE REASON
THEY'RE CLAPPING.
I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU THE REAL
REASON THEY'RE CLAPPING
IS THEY HAD SEEN HIS SHOES.
SO WELCOME JOSH MCDOWELL.
HERE'S JOSH.
JUST WELCOME JOSH.
BUT LET'S GET A CLOSE-UP
OF HIS SHOES.
I WANT YOU TO SEE
THE MAN'S SHOES.
CAN WE SHOW YOU THE SHOES?
IS IT POSSIBLE?
THERE THEY ARE.
HOW DO YOU LIKE THOSE SHOES?
ALL RIGHT, JOSH, WHERE
DID YOU GET THE SHOES?
Josh: THEY WERE A GIFT FROM
THE COLUMBIAN SOCCER TEAM;
FOOTBALL TEAM
IN SOUTH AMERICA.
James: SO IS SOMETHING
GOING ON DOWN THERE
BESIDE DRUGS?
Josh: WELL, I HAD A CHANCE
TO SPEAK TO THE TEAM.
IT DIDN'T WORK
BECAUSE THEY LOST.
[Laughter]
Josh: IT WAS BETTER
THAN AN HONORARIUM.
James: THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.
BY THE WAY, YOU LOOK SHARP.
HERE IS A BOOK THAT I WANT YOU
TO KIND OF LOOK AT THE TITLE,
SET FREE TO CHOOSE RIGHT.
I THINK THAT'S MORE
THAN AN IMPLICATION
OR AN INFERENCE, I THINK
IT IS AN ABSOLUTE FACT.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE UNABLE
TO CHOOSE RIGHT BECAUSE
THEY ARE NOT FREE.
THEY DON'T EVEN THINK FREE.
IT'S LIKE THERE IS A GRIP
AND IT IS ALMOST LIKE
THEY'RE BEING HELD CAPTIVE
IN THEIR THOUGHTS.
RATHER THAN TAKING
THOUGHTS CAPTIVE, THOUGHTS
ARE TAKING THEM CAPTIVE
SO THERE IS A FREEDOM THERE.
BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
CHOOSING RIGHT AND
YOU TALK ABOUT EQUIPPING KIDS
TO MAKE THE RIGHT
MORAL DECISIONS.
I HAVE AN IDEA THAT
YOU TOUCH ON VERY IMPORTANT,
VERY SERIOUS TOPICS.
I'D JUST LIKE YOU TO
CUT TO THE CHASE BECAUSE
MY PRAYER IS THAT
EVERY PARENT AND EVERY
CONCERNED PERSON, PROBABLY
EVERY PASTOR, BECAUSE I KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
AND I KNOW THE THINGS
YOU ADDRESS, THEY NEED
TO BE ADDRESSED EFFECTIVELY
AND WISELY.
AND I THINK MOST PARENTS,
AND EVEN CHURCH LEADERS,
THEY DON'T KNOW HOW
TO ADDRESS THEM.
SO JUST TAKE OFF AND
ADDRESS SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT YOU REALLY WANT US
TO BE ABLE TO SET FREE
TO MAKE GOOD CHOICES.
Josh: WELL, WHAT YOU'RE
REFERRING TO IS A STORY LINE
I HAVE GOING THROUGH THE BOOK
OF A FAMILY WITH CHILDREN
WHO BECOME ADDICTED
TO PORNOGRAPHY.
THROUGH THE BOOK I USE THEM
AS A STORY LINE OF
HOW TO HELP EVEN A CHILD
LIKE THAT TO MAKE RIGHT,
MORAL CHOICES.
James: SO THERE ARE SEVERAL
CHILDREN INVOLVED IN THAT?
Josh: YES. BUT PORNOGRAPHY,
I WISH YOU NEVER EVEN HAD
TO MENTION THAT IT IS
THE GREATEST THREAT,
THE GREATEST DEVASTATION
TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST IN
THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
James: LET ME SAY UPFRONT,
I BELIEVE THAT.
I TOTALLY BELIEVE THAT.
Josh: YOU AND CHUCK SWINDOLL
SET THE PACE ON THAT.
CHUCK SAID IT'S THE GREATEST
CANCER IN THE HISTORY
OF THE CHURCH.
ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO
I REALIZED AS AN APOLOGIST
SETTING FORTH TRUTH
TO BELIEVE THAT I WAS
SEEING SOMETHING IN
THE YOUTH CULTURE,
IN KIDS' CONVERSATIONS
I COULDN'T PUT TOGETHER.
USUALLY I CAN
PINPOINT A PROBLEM
AND PINPOINT THE ANSWER.
IT TOOK ME A WHOLE YEAR.
WHEN I CALLED HOME TO DOTTIE
I SAID, "HONEY, I FOUND OUT
WHAT IT IS."
SHE SAID, "WHAT?"
I SAID, "IT IS PERVASIVE
INTERNET PORNOGRAPHY."
NOW WHAT I SAW HERE,
WHEN A PERSON STARTS WATCHING
PORNOGRAPHY, AND AFTER JUST
MINUTES OR SO THEY BECOME
COMPULSIVE USUALLY,
IS THAT THEIR AUTHORITY
IN THE SCRIPTURES, THE BIBLE,
IN CHRIST, AND THEIR PASTOR
AND THEIR CHURCH
AND THEIR PARENTS
STARTS TO ERODE AND THAT'S
WHAT I WAS CATCHING
IN THEIR ATTITUDES AND ALL.
I TRACED IT BACK
TO PORNOGRAPHY.
THE PROBLEM IS THERE IS
SUCH AN IGNORANCE --
IGNORANCE IN THE BODY
OF CHRIST AMONG PARENTS.
I CAN ALMOST NEVER EVER EVER
MEET ANY CHRISTIAN LEADER,
PARENT, OR ANYTHING
THAT'S EVEN 1/1,000TH
INFORMED OF PORNOGRAPHY.
THE MAJORITY OF...
James: THEY'VE NEVER BEEN
EXPOSED TO ANY OF IT OR WHAT?
OR IT'S A DIFFERENT LEVEL?
Josh: THEY THINK
THEY'RE THE ONLY ONE.
AND IT'S NO PROBLEM.
James: BUT TODAY IT IS
A MASSIVE PROBLEM.
Josh: YOU LOOK IN THE CHURCH,
ANY EVANGELICAL CHURCH,
LOOK OUT OVER THE CHURCH.
I PAID A QUARTER OF
A MILLION DOLLARS TO BE ABLE
TO SAY THIS, LOOK OUT OVER
THE CHURCH AND 70% OF ALL
THE YOUNG MEN BETWEEN 18-34
ACTIVELY SEEK OUT PORNOGRAPHY
ON THE INTERNET,
56% OF THE WOMEN.
James: NOW REPEAT
THOSE STATS AGAIN.
Josh: FROM 18-34 YEARS OLD
IN ANY EVANGELICAL CHURCH,
70 SOME PERCENT,
COMES UP TO ABOUT 77-78% OF
ALL THE MEN, 56% OF THE WOMEN
ACTIVELY SEEK OUT PORNOGRAPHY
ON THE INTERNET.
IT DIDN'T SLIP BY ON THAT.
James: CAN I ASK YOU
THIS QUESTION?
Josh: I'LL PUT IT THIS WAY.
LET ME POINT OUT,
EVEN DR. TED ROBERTS SAY THAT
55-58% OF ALL EVANGELICAL,
FUNDAMENTAL, BORN AGAIN
CHRISTIAN PASTORS ARE
ADDICTED TO PORNOGRAPHY.
James: BOY, THIS LEADS
TO HEAVY STUFF.
HERE'S THE QUESTION
I SIMPLY WANT TO ASK YOU.
GOD SAYS FLEE SEXUAL
IMMORALITY, FORNICATION;
EVERY SIN BUT THAT IS NOT
AGAINST THE BODY --
THAT IS AGAINST THE BODY.
WHEN WE MOVE IN THAT AREA,
IS THERE A DAMAGE INFLICTED
UPON OUR BASIC BEING?
Josh: YES!
WITHIN ONE HALF SECOND.
NOW IT TAKES DRUGS ABOUT
SIX MINUTES, ALCOHOL
ABOUT 13 MINUTES TO REACH
THE BRAIN; WITH PORNOGRAPHY
-- A HALF SECOND.
WITHIN A HALF SECOND
STARTS A PROCESS THAT
WITHIN SIX MINUTES
YOUR BRAIN IS PHYSICALLY,
BIOLOGICALLY CHANGED.
DIFFERENT THAN DRUGS...
IT'S FAR HARDER TO BEAT
PORNOGRAPHY THAN HEROIN,
COCAINE, ALCOHOL BECAUSE
OF WHAT IT DOES TO THE BRAIN.
I'LL SAY TO ANY PASTOR,
I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH
YOU KNOW THE WORD OF GOD,
I DON'T CARE HOW MANY
SOLUTIONS YOU KNOW FOR
PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS,
IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND
THE HUMAN BRAIN, THEN PLEASE
DON'T TELL ME YOU HAVE
A BIBLICAL ANSWER FOR
PORNOGRAPHY BECAUSE YOU DON'T.
BEFORE IT'S EVEN
A SIN PROBLEM, IT IS
A BIOLOGICAL BRAIN PROBLEM
AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE
DON'T REALIZE.
BUT LOOK AT THIS,
38% OF MINISTERS WATCHING
PORNOGRAPHY LOSE THEIR JOB
OR THEIR PROFESSION
OR THEIR BUSINESS;
60 SOME PERCENT
END IN DIVORCE.
THAT'S HOW POWERFUL IT IS.
James: SO IS IT RIPPING
PEOPLE APART BECAUSE
SOMETHING HAS HELD THEM
WITH SUCH A GRIP?
Josh: WELL, IT'S A DEEP SHAME
FIRST OF ALL.
A VERY DEEP --
James: BY THE WAY,
DO WE ADD TO THAT SHAME
UNKNOWINGLY IN THE CHURCH?
Josh: OH, YES!
James: DO WE MAKE PEOPLE
WHO ARE TRAPPED BY SOMETHING
THAT MIGHT BE EVIL
BELIEVE THEY ARE EVIL?
Josh: IT IS SHAME.
James: IT IS, "YOU ARE BAD.
YOU DIDN'T JUST DO BAD --
YOU'RE BAD."
Josh: SHAME IS HOW
WE LOOK AT OURSELVES.
GUILT IS BECAUSE
OF OUR ACTIONS.
WE BECOME GUILTY.
IT IS SHAME.
THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU START
WATCHING PORNOGRAPHY,
SAY IF YOU'RE A BELIEVER
AND OVER HALF DO,
OF BELIEVERS, EVANGELICALS,
THEY START WATCHING IT,
THEY WILL START DEVELOPING
A SHAME.
BUT IT IS SO POWERFUL
THEY CAN'T WALK AWAY FROM IT.
James: AND THEY DON'T TALK
ABOUT IT; DO THEY?
THEY DON'T BRING IT UP;
DO THEY?
Josh: NO. AND THE SHAME
STARTS TO AFFECT
THEIR INTIMACY IN RELATIONSHIP
WITH OTHERS,
YOU START TO WITHDRAW.
THAT'S ONE OF
THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS.
IN THE CHURCH, I TELL PASTORS,
YOU CANNOT COUNSEL --
I'LL PUT IT THIS WAY,
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY
OF PASTORS, BOY THIS IS
DANGEROUS TO SAY THIS
ON YOUR SHOW --
THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY
OF PASTORS AND CHRISTIAN
LEADERS THAT COUNSEL PEOPLE
ON PORNOGRAPHY ARE NORMALLY
DOING MORE DAMAGE THAN GOOD.
James: HOW DO THEY DO
THE DAMAGE?
PLEASE HELP THEM.
Josh: BECAUSE THEY TAKE THE
TYPICAL, AND FOR MANY IT IS
A GOOD BIBLICAL [Mumbles].
YOU JUST NEED TO MAKE
THE DECISION, YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO WATCH ANYMORE
-- THE WILL.
SECOND, READ GOD'S WORD.
THIRD, TRUST JESUS AND
HE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.
NO, YOU CAN LEAD TO SUICIDE.
WHY? THE KEY TO PORN
IS REALIZING PORN
IS NOT THE PROBLEM.
PORN IS A SYMPTOM OF
A DEEPER ROOT PROBLEM,
LONELINESS, ANGUISH,
FEAR, BOREDOM.
THERE ARE TRIGGER POINTS,
UP TO 19-20 TRIGGER POINTS
THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN
YOUR LIFE THROUGH THE YEARS
THROUGH BEING WOUNDED.
EVERY PERSON I'VE EVER MET
IN LIFE HAS BEEN WOUNDED.
YOU'VE BEEN WOUNDED, RANDY.
YOU'VE BEEN WOUNDED.
I'VE BEEN WOUNDED.
EVERYONE HERE HAS BEEN WOUNDED
AND WHEN YOU DEAL WITH JUST
THE SURFACE LEVEL PORNOGRAPHY
STOPPING THEY WILL SAY,
"SEE, HE GOT FREEDOM,
HE'S GOT VICTORY OVER IT."
TWO MONTHS LATER THEY'LL BE
DEEPER INTO PORNOGRAPHY
THAN THEY EVER DREAMED. WHY?
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T DEAL
WITH THE DEEPER ROOT PROBLEM.
WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN
YOU DEAL WITH THE SURFACE
PROBLEM AND NOT THE ROOT
PROBLEM AND THEN THE PERSON
SAYS, "OH I'M FREE.
THE PASTOR SAID I'M FREE"
AND THEN BOOM,
IT WILL COME BACK.
IT WILL COME BACK.
THEN YOU LOSE HOPE.
BUT HERE'S THE KEY.
FROM SIX TO THIRTEEN YEARS
OF AGE I WAS HOMOSEXUALLY
RAPED EVERY WEEK FOR
SEVEN YEARS, SOMETIMES TWO
OR THREE --
[Emotionally overwhelmed]
WHOO!
TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK
I WAS FORCED FOR SEVEN YEARS
EVERY SINGLE DAY TO LOOK
AT HOMOSEXUAL PORNOGRAPHY.
IT'S RIGHT UP HERE.
AFTER I CAME TO JESUS,
SECOND YEAR IN UNIVERSITY,
THE GREATEST TRUTH I EVER
LEARNED IS WHEN I REALIZED
I NEED MORE THAN JESUS.
IF I STICK WITH JESUS
I'M GOING TO FAIL.
I THINK ONE OF THE GREATEST
SINS PREACHED TODAY
AND I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME,
IT'S IN CHRISTIAN MUSIC,
"ALL YOU NEED IS JESUS" --
THAT'S EVIL --
THAT IS NOT BIBLICAL!
James: YOU ALMOST SOUND LIKE
YOU'RE GETTING
HERETICAL YOURSELF.
Josh: YEAH!
ANYBODY THAT QUESTIONS THAT,
THEY'RE THE HERETICAL ONE.
WHY? JUST READ YOUR BIBLE
FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!
I SAY TO PEOPLE, DON'T
JUST READ IT STUDY IT.
WHEN IT COMES TO MY SALVATION,
JAMES, ALL I NEED IS JESUS.
I DON'T NEED JESUS PLUS WORKS,
JESUS PLUS BAPTISM,
JESUS PLUS COMMUNION,
WHATEVER.
BUT JAMES, ALMOST EVERYTHING
AFTER MY SALVATION I NEED
MORE THAN JESUS.
I NEED THE CHURCH.
I NEED THE BODY OF CHRIST.
ABOUT 50 TIMES IN THE
NEW TESTAMENT, MARK IT OUT,
"ONE ANOTHER," THAT'S NOT
YOU AND JESUS --
THAT'S YOU AND A BROTHER
OR A SISTER IN CHRIST.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
COMFORT ONE ANOTHER.
ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER.
GALATIANS:
BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS.
JAMES FIVE: CONFESS YOUR SINS
TO ONE ANOTHER.
WHEN WE CONFESS OUR SINS
TO GOD, WHAT DOES THE BIBLE
PROMISE? FORGIVENESS.
WE CONFESS OUR SINS ONE
TO ANOTHER, WHAT DOES
GOD PROVIDE? HEALING!
AND EVERY TIME A PASTOR SAYS,
"ALL YOU NEED IS JESUS,"
THEY'RE CUTTING PEOPLE OFF
FROM ONE OF THE GREATEST
SOURCES OF HEALING --
THE BODY OF CHRIST.
I WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT
DICK DAY, JIM SIMPSON.
James: I WOULDN'T EITHER.
THAT'S WHAT I'M WANTING
TO SHOUT!
DUNG! DUNG WITHOUT FAMILY
THAT LOVED LIKE JESUS,
THAT DIDN'T SHAME ME,
THAT LIFTED ME UP INTO
THE PRESENCE OF HIS GRACE --
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
Josh: ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
TOWARDS HEALING WE REALIZE
YOU CAN'T GO IT ALONE.
I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE
A TRIPLE PERSONALITY A,
DON'T GO IT ALONE.
YOU WON'T MAKE IT.
James: THAT'S SO POWERFUL!
GOD, PLEASE HELP PEOPLE
TO HEAR THIS.
Josh: THEN SECOND,
YOU'VE GOT TO INCORPORATE
IN THE PERSON THE EXCITING
BIBLICAL-BASED CONCEPT
OF SEXUALITY BECAUSE --
ESPECIALLY WITH A CHILD.
James: IT IS A BEAUTIFUL GIFT!
Josh: SEE WHAT MOST CHILDREN,
MOST CHRISTIAN KIDS,
THEIR PARENTS HAVEN'T
TALKED TO THEM ABOUT SEX.
I THINK YOU HAVE TO START
AT FIVE AND BUILD INTO THEM
A CERTAIN CONCEPT
OF BIBLICAL SEXUALITY.
WHY? BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME
THEY SEE PORN --
AND YOUR CHILD,
YOUR GRANDCHILDREN ARE GOING
TO SEE PORN.
THESE PEOPLE WHO SAY,
"OH, I CAN PROTECT MY CHILD."
NO, YOU CAN'T.
I DON'T CARE IF YOU
HOMESCHOOL THEM, YOU PRAY
OVER THEM, YOU HAVE
FAMILY TO WATCH.
YOU CANNOT PROTECT YOUR CHILD.
THEY WILL SEE PORNOGRAPHY.
AND THE KEY IS HAVE YOU
PREPARED THEM FOR
THE FIRST TIME THEY SEE IT?
BECAUSE IT IS NOT IF
THEY ARE GOING TO SEE IT
IT IS WHEN.
AND WHEN THEY SEE IT
THAT FIRST TIME THERE NEEDS
TO BE TWO THINGS INCORPORATED:
ONE, THAT MOTHER AND DAD HAS
CREATED THE MOST INCREDIBLE,
LOVING, INTIMATE,
SECURE HOME WHERE THAT CHILD
FEELS FREE TO TALK TO MOMMY
AND DADDY ABOUT ANY --
I MEAN ANYTHING WITHOUT SHAME,
WITHOUT JUDGMENT --
BUT JAMES, WITHOUT STARTING
TO QUOTE THE BIBLE.
SOME CHRISTIANS CAN'T
OPEN THEIR MOUTH WITHOUT
SAYING, "WELL, DON'T YOU
KNOW GOD SAYS THIS?
THE BIBLE SAYS..."
THAT'S ONE OF THE FASTEST WAYS
TO LOSE YOUR CHILD.
James: DOESN'T IT ADD
MORE SHAME TO THEM
FOR SOME REASON?
Josh: YOU LISTEN TO THEM
AND THEN YOU BRING IN
THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD.
THE FIRST THING YOU NEED
IS BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP.
SECOND, BY I WOULD SAY FIVE,
AT THE MAXIMUM EIGHT BECAUSE
THE AVERAGE AGE FOR
A CHILD SEEING IT IS
EIGHT YEARS OLD WORLDWIDE.
IF BY THE FIRST TIME
YOUR CHILD SEES PORNOGRAPHY
YOU'VE NOT BUILT INTO THEM
A CERTAIN CONCEPT OF
GOD'S BEAUTIFUL REASON
FOR SEXUALITY THEN WHEN
THEY SEE THAT PORN THE FIRST
TIME THEY CANNOT DETECT
A COUNTERFEIT
FROM THE ORIGINAL.
AND THE MAJORITY OF CHRISTIAN
YOUNG PEOPLE TO THIS DAY
BELIEVE PORN IS
GOD'S APPROACH TO SEX.
AND IT COMES BACK
TO MOM AND DAD.
AND THEN GOD'S GRACE --
GOD'S GRACE.
James: YOU'VE WRITTEN A BOOK
NOT ONLY DEALING WITH THIS,
BUT IN-DEPTH,
MANY OTHER CHALLENGES.
THERE'S NOT A WAY IN THE WORLD
-- NAME TWO OR THREE OF THEM.
WE DON'T HAVE TIME
TO GO INTO THEM.
BUT NAME A COUPLE OTHER AREAS
OTHER THAN THIS THAT
YOU TRY TO DEAL WITH.
Josh: WELL, HOW DO YOU HELP
YOUR CHILD TO MAKE
CONSISTENT RIGHT CHOICES?
FOR EXAMPLE,
AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE,
CHRISTIAN YOUNG PEOPLE,
56 OR 57 PERCENT WILL SAY
NOT RECYCLING IS IMMORAL.
ONLY 32 PERCENT WILL SAY
WATCHING PORNOGRAPHY
IS IMMORAL.
HOW DO YOU TEACH YOUR
CHILDREN RIGHT FROM WRONG?
FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL BE
IN ANY MEETING, PASTORS'
MEETINGS, LEADERS', PARENTS',
WHATEVER, AND I'LL SAY,
"DO YOU BELIEVE LYING
IS WRONG?"
EVERYONE SAYS, "YES."
I'LL SAY, "WHY?"
90% WILL ALWAYS SAY,
"BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS SO."
AND I GO, OH, MY GOSH!
NO WONDER WE'RE LOSING
OUR KIDS.
THAT IS WRONG.
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
IS MORALLY RIGHT OR WRONG
BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS
"THOU SHALL NOT" AND YET
ALMOST EVERY CHRISTIAN PARENT
TEACHES THAT AND IT IS
PREACHED FROM THE PULPIT.
THAT IS WRONG.
IT IS UNBIBLICAL.
THE BIBLE IS NOT LEGALISTIC
BUT THE WAY IT IS SO OFTEN
TAUGHT IT BECOMES LEGALISTIC
THE WAY WE TEACH IT.
AND THIS BOOK HERE IS SAYING,
"I WANT TO BRING YOU BACK
TO THE PERSON, CHARACTER
AND NATURE OF GOD."
ONE OF THE PRINCIPLES
THERE IS FOUR STEPS
WE USE WITH OUR KIDS.
ONE, CONSIDER THE CHOICE.
OKAY, I CAN DO THIS
OR DO THAT.
THIS COULD BE --.
SECOND, COMPARE IT TO GOD.
CONSIDER THE CHOICE,
COMPARE IT TO GOD.
THIRD, AND THIS IS
A TOUGH ONE --
COMMIT TO GOD'S WAY.
AND THEN THIRD, COUNT ON
HIS BLESSING TO PROTECT
AND PROVIDE.
AND IN THE BOOK I WALK
PARENTS THROUGH HOW
THEY CAN TEACH THIS TO
THEIR CHILDREN AND HOW
YOU CAN LITERALLY SHOW
YOUR CHILDREN THAT LITERALLY
FOLLOWING GOD'S CHARACTER
IS YOUR WAY OF RIGHT
FROM WRONG, YOU ENJOY LIFE
MORE, IT IS BETTER FOR YOU,
EVERYTHING BECAUSE GOD
IS ABLE TO PROTECT YOU
AND PROVIDE FOR YOU.
WE NEED TO TAKE AND SHOW
OUR KIDS THAT WHEN IT SAYS
"THOU SHALL NOT" AND
THIS IS WHAT I HELP PARENTS
IN THERE, ILLUSTRATION
AFTER ILLUSTRATION,
HOW TO SHOW WHAT
APPEARS TO BE NEGATIVE HERE
IS ACTUALLY POSITIVE.
I MEAN YOU TAKE WHERE IT SAYS
IN FIRST CORINTHIANS 6:18,
FLEE SEXUAL IMMORALITY.
ALMOST EVERY CHRISTIAN
[Mumbles] EVERYTHING SAYS,
"THAT'S SO NEGATIVE.
GOD DOESN'T WANT YOU
TO ENJOY YOURSELF."
NO! HE SAYS FOR IT IS
THE ONE SIN YOU COMMIT
AGAINST YOUR BODY.
IN 1960, ONE OUT OF 63
TEENAGERS WERE INFECTED
WITH A SEXUALLY
TRANSMITTED DISEASE.
IN 1970, ONE OUT OF 57.
1940, ABOUT ONE OUT OF 32;
30 YEARS AGO, IT WAS
ABOUT ONE OUT OF 20 SOME.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS TODAY?
ONE OUT OF TWO.
50 PERCENT!
AND GOD SAYS, "I LOVE YOU.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE
THE FUN OUT OF LIFE.
I WANT TO PROTECT YOU FROM
THE ONE SIN THAT LITERALLY
EFFECTS YOUR BODY." WOW!
I DOCUMENT ALL OF THIS
IN THERE AND SHOW PARENTS
CHAPTER AFTER -- HOW TO DO
THIS IN THIS AREA AND
THAT AREA WITH PORNOGRAPHY
AND EVERYTHING.
SEE, GOD IS TRUTH.
THERE'S A PRINCIPLE
OUT OF THAT: HONESTY.
THERE'S A PRECEPT OUT
OF THAT: THOU SHALL NOT LIE.
BEHIND EVERY PRECEPT
IS A PRINCIPLE.
BEHIND EVERY PRINCIPLE
IS THE PERSON, CHARACTER,
AND NATURE OF GOD.
James: YOU NEED TO BE HERE
ABOUT A WEEK.
LET ME SAY TO ALL OF YOU
WHO ARE WATCHING,
NOW PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!
I BEG YOU TO GET THE BOOK.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT
YOU HAVE A NEED FOR IT
YOU KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE
A DESPERATE NEED FOR IT.
IF YOU HAVE GRANDCHILDREN,
NOW WE'RE HAVING GREAT
GRANDCHILDREN, I WANT
TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
I HAPPEN TO KNOW THINGS WERE
SAID TO OUR GRANDCHILDREN
THAT WERE REVOLUTIONARY
IN A POSITIVE WAY
-- IN A POSITIVE WAY
AND THEY'RE AS NATURAL
AND NORMAL AS ANYBODY'S
EVER BEEN MADE IN THE IMAGE
OF GOD WITH THE VERY DESIRES
AND APPETITES GOD PUTS IN.
I'M TELLING YOU,
I'M WATCHING MIRACLES.
YOU AND I WOULDN'T BE HERE
IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE MIRACLE
OF GRACE BECAUSE WE WOULD
HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.
OUR LIVES WERE SET UP
FOR TOTAL DESTRUCTION.
WE GOT A MIGHTY GOD THAT'S
GOT TWO GUYS HERE THAT ARE
EXCITED ABOUT THE GREATNESS
OF GOD'S GRACE.
AGAIN, WOULD YOU SAY THANKS
TO GOD AND THANKS TO JOSH
FOR BEING SO HONEST?
THE BOOK IS IN THE BOOKSTORES.
GET IT. SHARE IT.
LET GOD DIRECT YOU AS
YOU OFFER GRACE AND HELP.
JOSH, COME BACK SOON.
LET ME SAY THIS TO YOU.
NOW DON'T LEAVE ME RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK
IN THIS EMPHASIS,
WHY I'M COMING TO YOU.
LISTEN TO WHAT
I'M SAYING TO YOU.
WE'RE COMING TO YOU
ASKING YOU RIGHT NOW
TO JUST REACH OUT IN LOVE
AND NOTICE THE UNNOTICED,
THE TOO OFTEN OVERLOOKED.
GOD DOES NOT OVERLOOK THEM
BUT HE SEES THEM THROUGH EYES
THAT HAVE HANDS AND HEARTS
AND MINDS TO EXPRESS
HIS HEART, HIS MIND,
AND EXTEND HIS HANDS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING
TO GET TO DO RIGHT NOW.
AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU
SOMETHING WITH ALL MY HEART,
I BELIEVE YOU'RE GOING
TO WANT TO DO IT. WATCH.
Isak: IT REALLY JUST
BREAKS MY HEART HOW
THE CHILDREN IN THIS VILLAGE
KNOW WHAT IT MEANS
TO HAVE
AN EMPTY BOWL
BECAUSE EMPTY BOWLS
MEAN EMPTY STOMACHS
AND EMPTY
STOMACHS MEAN
GOING TO BED
NIGHT AFTER NIGHT
SUFFERING FROM
THE PAIN OF HUNGER,
STARVATION,
MALNUTRITION
AND ULTIMATELY
DEATH.
THE GRAVES
ARE FULL --
FULL OF CHILDREN;
PRECIOUS LITTLE LIVES,
CHILDREN WHO HAVE A NAME,
CHILDREN WHO MEAN
SO MUCH TO THEIR FAMILY,
CHILDREN WHOSE LIVES
ARE STOLEN
SIMPLY BECAUSE
THEY DIDN'T HAVE
ENOUGH FOOD.
Isak: WE CAN END
THAT PAIN.
WE CAN END
THE SUFFERING
OF CHILDREN GOING
TO BED AT NIGHT
WITH THE PAIN
OF HUNGER.
WE CAN END
THE CYCLE OF DEATH,
OF MOTHER
BURYING CHILD
BECAUSE SHE WASN'T ABLE
TO GIVE THEM ENOUGH FOOD.
IT IS SO EASY
TO CHANGE IT.
PLEASE,
GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE
TO THESE
CHILDREN
AND FILL
THE EMPTY BOWLS.
James: I CAN'T TELL YOU
HOW MUCH I WANT US TO PICK
THOSE LITTLE CHILDREN UP.
AND MAYBE YOU DIDN'T NOTICE,
HE HAD JUST
A KIND OF ORDINARY BOWL
BUT RIGHT BESIDE HIM
THERE WAS A BIG TUB
FULL OF BOWLS LIKE THIS.
YOU KNOW WHERE THEY CAME FROM?
SOMEBODY LIKE YOU
KEPT WATCHING
THESE LITTLE CHILDREN
WITH THEIR OLD TIN CANS,
RUSTY CANS, PLASTIC BAGS,
WHATEVER THEY COULD BRING
TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT,
AND THE SOUP HAS TO BE HOT
BECAUSE WE'RE DEALING
WITH WATER THAT'S
NOT ALWAYS THE PUREST
AND IT HAS TO BE BOILED.
IT WOULD BURN
THEIR LITTLE FINGERS.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE WATCHED THEM
DROP THEIR LITTLE BOWLS
OR THEIR LITTLE CAN AND
THEY WOULD FALL TO THE GROUND
AND START EATING IT
RIGHT OFF THE DIRT.
OUR VIEWERS SAID, "LET'S GIVE
THEM HEAT-RESISTANT BOWLS.
THERE WAS A WHOLE TUB
OF THOSE.
LOVE PAID FOR THAT.
BUT LOVE DID SOMETHING
EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT,
IT FILLED THE BOWLS
WITH A MANIFESTATION OF LOVE.
IT FILLED THEM WITH FOOD
THAT WAS NOURISHING,
LITERALLY ESTABLISHED
WITH A SCIENTIFIC
BIOLOGICAL OVERVIEW
OF THE VERY NUTRITIONAL NEEDS
IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA,
WHAT'S LACKING.
THAT'S WHAT LOVE DOES.
RIGHT NOW IN THE LAST WEEK
OF THIS EMPHASIS
WHERE A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR
WE COME AND ASK YOU TO GIVE
FOOD FOR THE NEXT MONTHS
WITH A SINGLE GIFT.
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK
FOR THIS EMPHASIS.
THAT MEANS FOR THE NEXT MONTHS
THESE CHILDREN
THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED
WITH A HORRIBLE DROUGHT,
ONE OF THE WORST
IN THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES
REALLY NEED OUR HELP;
400,000 OF THEM ORGANIZED.
THE MISSIONARIES
HAVE LOCATED THEM,
THEY'VE SAID YOU COME HERE
AND IN MANY INSTANCES
THEY'VE GOT SOMETHING
TO START WITH.
BUT NOW THEY'RE WAITING
TO KNOW THEY CAN CONTINUE
THE FEEDING AND THOSE LINES
WILL GET LONGER.
SO AS BETTY PRAYED CONTINUALLY
IN OUR MISSION OUTREACH,
"GOD LET THE LINES
TO FEED THEM ALWAYS
BE LONGER THAN THOSE
WHO NEED TO BE FED."
ALL RIGHT,
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
THIS LAST WEEK WE NEED
A MIGHTY OUTPOURING
OF GOD'S LOVE AND WE NEED IT
EXPRESSED IN ACTION.
NOT JUST IN WORD BUT IN DEED.
SO WOULD YOU RIGHT NOW
GO ONLINE
OR WOULD YOU DIAL THAT NUMBER
THAT'S A PRAYER LINE FOR YOU
IF YOU HAVE A BROKEN HEART
OR A NEED
AND IT'S PAID FOR BY LOVE
BUT WOULD YOU
RIGHT NOW IN LOVE,
WOULD YOU TAKE YOUR BANKCARD,
GO ONLINE, CALL THE NUMBER,
TAKE THAT CARD
AND USE IT LIKE A CHECK?
I'M ASKING YOU TO MAKE
THE LARGEST GIFT
YOU POSSIBLY CAN.
NOW REMEMBER THIS.
LISTEN TO WHAT I'M SAYING.
$30, $50, OR $100,
I'M NOT EXAGGERATING,
$30, $50, OR $100 FEEDS THREE,
FIVE OR TEN CHILDREN
FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID?
WOULD YOU DO IT RIGHT NOW?
$1,000 WILL FEED 100;
I'M PRAYING
FOR MANY PEOPLE TODAY
WHO CAN SEND $1,000.
I'M GOING TO FEED 100 KIDS.
BUT IF YOU CAN FEED THREE,
DON'T CONSIDER THAT SMALL.
IT IS HUGE TO THE MOTHERS
YOU JUST SAW;
TO THOSE CHILDREN IT'S LIFE.
$30, $50, OR $100,
WHATEVER YOU CAN DO.
WE'VE GOT SOME GIFTS
TO SEND YOU THAT WILL
HELP YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND
AND GRASP GOD'S WISDOM
EVEN MORE CLEARLY.
WE'LL SEND IT TO SAY THANKS.
PLEASE, IF YOU WRITE A CHECK
MAKE IT TO LIFE BUT CALL US.
CALL US AND TELL US
YOU'RE PUTTING THE CHECK
IN THE MAIL.
THE MISSIONARIES NEED TO KNOW.
THANK YOU RIGHT NOW
FOR MAKING THAT GIFT.
THANK YOU FOR DOING IT NOW.
Announcer: IN IMPOVERISHED
AND DROUGHT-STRICKEN AREAS
OF AFRICA
CHILDREN
ARE SUFFERING.
THE NEED IS GREAT
AND WITHOUT FOOD
THEY FACE SEVERE
MALNUTRITION --
EVEN DEATH.
WITH YOUR SUPPORT
LIFE'S MISSION FEEDING
OUTREACH CAN SAVE LIVES
BY FEEDING AND CARING
FOR CHILDREN
IN THE HARDEST HIT AREAS
OF ANGOLA, MOZAMBIQUE,
AND SOUTH SUDAN.
WITH PREVIOUS
RESERVES GONE
AND MISSION FEEDING
HELPING IN AREAS WITH
SEVERE CROP FAILURE
WE URGENTLY NEED TO
REPLENISH OUR FOOD SUPPLIES
TO REACH 400,000 CHILDREN
WHO ARE COUNTING ON US.
YOUR LIFESAVING GIFT
OF $30, $50, OR $100
WILL HELP FEED AND CARE FOR THREE, FIVE OR TEN CHILDREN
FOR THREE
FULL MONTHS.
AND WITH YOUR GIFT
OF ANY AMOUNT,
WE'LL SEND YOU PROVERBS POWER:
SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION.
THIS POWERFUL CD SERIES,
ALONG WITH STUDY GUIDE
FEATURING
STEVEN K. SCOTT
UNVEILS THE SECRETS
TO INCREDIBLE WISDOM
FOUND ONLY IN
THE BOOK OF PROVERBS.
THIS SERIES WILL
GIVE YOU THE TOOLS
TO TRANSFORM YOUR
RELATIONSHIPS IN LIFE.
WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $100 OR MORE,
REQUEST THE COMPLETE
PROVERBS POWER LIBRARY
FEATURING FIVE
POWER-PACKED SESSIONS
THAT INCLUDE:
"THE POWER OF VISION,"
"BREAKING THROUGH MEDIOCRITY,"
AND MUCH MORE.
FINALLY, WITH YOUR GIFT
OF $1,000 OR MORE
TO HELP FEED AND CARE
FOR 100 CHILDREN,
BE SURE TO REQUEST
THE "BRIDGE OF FAITH"
FRAMED CANVAS PRINT
BY THOMAS KINKADE.
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK!
PLEASE CALL, WRITE,
OR MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE.
James: I WANT TO SAY THANKS.
RANDY AND I TOGETHER
SAY THANK YOU.
YOU DIDN'T GET TO HEAR RANDY,
YOU DIDN'T GET TO HEAR
A LOT FROM ME.
Randy: DIDN'T NEED TO.
James: NO! WE HAD
A TOTAL FLOW.
I DON'T JUST THINK FROM
JOSH MCDOWELL, I THINK
WE HAD A FLOW FROM
THE HEART OF GOD.
I THINK WE HEARD SOME OF
THE GREATEST WISDOM
THE WORLD WILL EVER HEAR.
I WANT YOU TO GET THE BOOK.
IF YOU GIVE ANY FOOD
TO THESE KIDS AND SAY,
"COULD YOU SEND ME
THAT BOOK, PLEASE?"
YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!
WE'LL SEND IT TO YOU
TO SAY THANK YOU ALONG WITH
THE OTHER GIFTS.
WE WANT TO POUR GIFTS
THAT BLESS ALL OVER YOU.
THIS COULD CHANGE AND SAVE
A MARRIAGE, A FAMILY,
A CHILD'S LIFE.
IF OUR LIVES, WITH ALL
WE WENT THROUGH AS KIDS
COULD BE SPARED BY GRACE,
ANYBODY'S CAN BE.
I LOVE YOU, BUDDY.
I WANT YOU TO COME BACK SOON.
WOULD YOU SAY THANKS
TO JOSH MCDOWELL?
TREMENDOUS! TREMENDOUS!
TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT
THE BOOK IN THE BOOKSTORES.
ALL RIGHT?
ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET IT.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
THANKS FOR HELPING.
♪
♪
♪
Announcer: NEXT WEEK
ON LIFE TODAY,
JOIN DR. DON COLBERT
AND PASTOR ROBERT MORRIS
AS THEY DISCUSS HEALING FOR
YOUR BODY HIS TEMPLE.
>> LIFE TODAY IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORTERS OF
LIFE OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL.
YOUR GIFT WILL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE EXEMPT PURPOSES OF LIFE.
THE MINISTRY FEATURES
SPECIFIC OUTREACHES
AS EXAMPLES OF THE PROGRAMS
IT SUPPORTS AND CONDUCTS.
GIFTS ARE CONSIDERED
TO BE WITHOUT RESTRICTION
AS TO USE UNLESS EXPLICITLY
STIPULATED BY THE DONOR.
THE MINISTRY IS A MEMBER
OF THE E.C.F.A.